"Spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly." Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization, speaking of the Arabs of Palestine,Complete Diaries, June 12, 1895 entry.
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Day-to-day FrictionIsrael and Palestine
Violence grabs the headlines but what is day-to-day life like in Palestine? My understanding was dramatically changed by an article describing how it takes hours to go 15 miles through 5 or more checkpoints? Is this the extent of the issue ... or is ongoing humiliation the routine as claimed by the Palestinians? How many articles like these ever appear in your newspaper?
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Peace worker vows to remain at refugee camp: believing her presence there prevents refugees from being killed
Peace worker vows to remain at refugee camp: "by Mark Choueke
BEING shot at with live ammunition while stopping Israeli bulldozers from entering Palestinian refugee camps is a daily routine for one Abergavenny peace protester.
Elaine Westblade, 26, is committed to staying in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, Palestine, believing her presence there prevents refugees from being killed.
Speaking exclusively to the Argus from Nablus, Miss Westblade - who was brought up by her uncle and aunt in Abergavenny after being orphaned at 15 - said: 'Every day we watch Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers enter the camp and destroy homes.
'When the Israelis see members of the International Solidarity Movement with video cameras they tend to fire their guns into the air instead of at women and children.
'Unfortunately, children have been shot at and killed when we have been in other parts of the camp.'
Miss Westblade says she has been shot at, faced tear gas, and has been arrested by Israeli forces, and she is scared but determined to stay. "
Peace worker vows to remain at refugee camp: "by Mark Choueke
BEING shot at with live ammunition while stopping Israeli bulldozers from entering Palestinian refugee camps is a daily routine for one Abergavenny peace protester.
Elaine Westblade, 26, is committed to staying in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, Palestine, believing her presence there prevents refugees from being killed.
Speaking exclusively to the Argus from Nablus, Miss Westblade - who was brought up by her uncle and aunt in Abergavenny after being orphaned at 15 - said: 'Every day we watch Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers enter the camp and destroy homes.
'When the Israelis see members of the International Solidarity Movement with video cameras they tend to fire their guns into the air instead of at women and children.
'Unfortunately, children have been shot at and killed when we have been in other parts of the camp.'
Miss Westblade says she has been shot at, faced tear gas, and has been arrested by Israeli forces, and she is scared but determined to stay. "
Israeli Sacked for throwing a stun grenade Toward Palestinian children
Israeli Sacked for Misconduct Toward Palestinians: "By REUTERS | Published: November 16, 2003
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli army officer was dismissed from duty Sunday for throwing a stun grenade at Palestinian children in the West Bank, an army statement said.
It said the low-ranking officer underwent a disciplinary hearing and was sentenced to 14 days in prison before being discharged from service. No one was wounded in the incident."
Israeli Sacked for Misconduct Toward Palestinians: "By REUTERS | Published: November 16, 2003
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli army officer was dismissed from duty Sunday for throwing a stun grenade at Palestinian children in the West Bank, an army statement said.
It said the low-ranking officer underwent a disciplinary hearing and was sentenced to 14 days in prison before being discharged from service. No one was wounded in the incident."
Sunday, November 09, 2003
British envoy tells Israel: “You converted Palestinian towns into concentration camps”
News: "British envoy tells Israel: “You converted Palestinian towns into concentration camps”
Occupied Jerusalem: The British Ambassador to Israel has accused Israel of reducing the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to “two vast concentration camps.”
The Israeli paper, Yediot Ahranot, quoted the British Ambassador as telling Israeli officials that their treatment of ordinary Palestinians was “absolutely unacceptable.”
“You have reduced the West Bank and the Gaza Strip into two vast concentration camps; you are imposing collective house arrests on hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, and you are hunting down innocent people in the streets.”
In September, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres admitted that TV images of Israel’s wanton rampage against Palestinian civilians were creating a lot of hatred for them in Europe.
Peres reportedly asked, “Why can’t we destroy all these homes in one operation?”
Two other Israeli officials made similar remarks highlighting anti-Israeli feelings in Europe.
News: "British envoy tells Israel: “You converted Palestinian towns into concentration camps”
Occupied Jerusalem: The British Ambassador to Israel has accused Israel of reducing the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to “two vast concentration camps.”
The Israeli paper, Yediot Ahranot, quoted the British Ambassador as telling Israeli officials that their treatment of ordinary Palestinians was “absolutely unacceptable.”
“You have reduced the West Bank and the Gaza Strip into two vast concentration camps; you are imposing collective house arrests on hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, and you are hunting down innocent people in the streets.”
In September, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres admitted that TV images of Israel’s wanton rampage against Palestinian civilians were creating a lot of hatred for them in Europe.
Peres reportedly asked, “Why can’t we destroy all these homes in one operation?”
Two other Israeli officials made similar remarks highlighting anti-Israeli feelings in Europe.
80% of Palestinians killed in curfew are innocent civilians
News: "Israeli report: 80% of Palestinians killed in curfew are innocent civilians
Occupied Jerusalem: A report issued by the Israeli human rights group, B’tselem, indicated that more than 80% of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli occupation troops during so-called curfew-enforcing activity were children.
“Curfew is no longer a tool to meet specific security needs, but a sweeping means to collective punishment.”
The report, entitled “Lethal Curfew,” underscored how the Israeli army uses curfews as a rubric to hunt down Palestinian civilians for murder.
“Shooting a person simply because he left his home during the curfew constitutes excessive use of force,” quoted from the report, carefully avoiding the use of stronger words such as “criminal” and a “crime against humanity.”
The report said curfews created “problems” for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, increasing malnutrition and disrupting schools, and are so extensive that they violate the right to freedom of movement included in international law.
News: "Israeli report: 80% of Palestinians killed in curfew are innocent civilians
Occupied Jerusalem: A report issued by the Israeli human rights group, B’tselem, indicated that more than 80% of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli occupation troops during so-called curfew-enforcing activity were children.
“Curfew is no longer a tool to meet specific security needs, but a sweeping means to collective punishment.”
The report, entitled “Lethal Curfew,” underscored how the Israeli army uses curfews as a rubric to hunt down Palestinian civilians for murder.
“Shooting a person simply because he left his home during the curfew constitutes excessive use of force,” quoted from the report, carefully avoiding the use of stronger words such as “criminal” and a “crime against humanity.”
The report said curfews created “problems” for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, increasing malnutrition and disrupting schools, and are so extensive that they violate the right to freedom of movement included in international law.
:: Xinhuanet - English ::
:: Xinhuanet - English ::: "Israeli army raids refugee camp in central Gaza | www.chinaview.cn 2003-11-07 10:23:15
GAZA, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli army, backed by tanks, special undercover troops, armored vehicles, jeeps and attack helicopters,raided a Palestinian refugee camp in central Gaza Strip at pre-dawn on Friday, witnesses said.
The witnesses said they saw a column of Israeli army tanks moving out of the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom towards the north, and raided Al Messader village and the southern part of Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
The undercover Israeli troops, disguised as Palestinians, entered Al Messader village and parts of the refugee camp there, but were confronted by Palestinian militants. Israeli army tanks immediately arrived to help the undercover troops, witnesses said.
:: Xinhuanet - English ::: "Israeli army raids refugee camp in central Gaza | www.chinaview.cn 2003-11-07 10:23:15
GAZA, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli army, backed by tanks, special undercover troops, armored vehicles, jeeps and attack helicopters,raided a Palestinian refugee camp in central Gaza Strip at pre-dawn on Friday, witnesses said.
The witnesses said they saw a column of Israeli army tanks moving out of the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom towards the north, and raided Al Messader village and the southern part of Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
The undercover Israeli troops, disguised as Palestinians, entered Al Messader village and parts of the refugee camp there, but were confronted by Palestinian militants. Israeli army tanks immediately arrived to help the undercover troops, witnesses said.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Soldiers can shoot Gazans spying on Netzarim: "killing people even if they constitute no apparent risk."
Soldiers can shoot Gazans spying on Netzarim: "By Amos Harel | Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Soldiers stationed near the Gaza settlement of Netzarim may shoot to kill if they spot a Palestinian observing Israel Defense Forces activity via binoculars, according to new rules of engagement recently issued by the IDF for that area
...
... ACRI's legal advisor, Dan Yakir, sent a letter of protest to the IDF Judge Advocate General. Yakir charged that the new order is blatantly illegal, since it permits "killing people even if they constitute no apparent risk."
Soldiers can shoot Gazans spying on Netzarim: "By Amos Harel | Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Soldiers stationed near the Gaza settlement of Netzarim may shoot to kill if they spot a Palestinian observing Israel Defense Forces activity via binoculars, according to new rules of engagement recently issued by the IDF for that area
...
... ACRI's legal advisor, Dan Yakir, sent a letter of protest to the IDF Judge Advocate General. Yakir charged that the new order is blatantly illegal, since it permits "killing people even if they constitute no apparent risk."
Another kind of terror: cutting down hundreds of olive trees
Another kind of terror: " | By Ze'ev Schiff | Wednesday, November 05, 2003
... But what value does this have if at the same time and without disruption, settlers cut down hundreds of olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers on the slopes of the hills around Nablus? Does a permit to work in Israel to earn a few hundred shekels cover the anger and hostility created by the sight of chopped-down trees?
Those who do such things hate the Land of Israel and a huge chasm exists between them and Jewish values. Cutting down an olive tree is a symbol of the intentions of the rioters - to eradicate and expel their neighbors. It is a disgusting deed that is also a form of terrorism.
... The IDF will send a company or two out to the fields, but nobody will be arrested. Thus the extremists among the settlers create new Palestinian terrorists.
The conclusion is that the fight against terror should not only be aimed at the Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Just as the Tanzim gangs must be fought, so should the gangs of olive-tree cutters.
Another kind of terror: " | By Ze'ev Schiff | Wednesday, November 05, 2003
... But what value does this have if at the same time and without disruption, settlers cut down hundreds of olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers on the slopes of the hills around Nablus? Does a permit to work in Israel to earn a few hundred shekels cover the anger and hostility created by the sight of chopped-down trees?
Those who do such things hate the Land of Israel and a huge chasm exists between them and Jewish values. Cutting down an olive tree is a symbol of the intentions of the rioters - to eradicate and expel their neighbors. It is a disgusting deed that is also a form of terrorism.
... The IDF will send a company or two out to the fields, but nobody will be arrested. Thus the extremists among the settlers create new Palestinian terrorists.
The conclusion is that the fight against terror should not only be aimed at the Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Just as the Tanzim gangs must be fought, so should the gangs of olive-tree cutters.
IDF Kidnaps Palestinian Wives To Get 'Wanted Husbands'
IDF Kidnaps Palestinian Wives To Get 'Wanted Husbands': "By Suliman Besharat | IOL Nablus Correspondent | 11-5-3
NABLUS (IslamOnline.net) -- Israeli occupation forces have adopted a new tactic in detaining what they call ' Palestinian suspects', based on detaining their wives to get them to surrender in return for releasing their women, IslamOnline.net was told by Palestinian wives.
Tamam Abdel Wahid, wife of Anad Salah El-Refae, who is one of those wanted by the occupation forces, told IOL her detention story when Israeli soldiers broke into her house and arrested her on October 25.
...
She added that she had nothing to do but to comply with instructions and accompany the soldiers to their military jeep, after blindfolding her and leaving her baby with her boy and two girls.
...
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of POW and the Released Affairs has declared in August 2003 that the occupation authorities were still detaining 73 Palestinian women, including 11 girls.
[This is a tactic the US used in Iraq briefly until the military was accused of "collective punishment", illegal under the Geneva conventions. ed.]
IDF Kidnaps Palestinian Wives To Get 'Wanted Husbands': "By Suliman Besharat | IOL Nablus Correspondent | 11-5-3
NABLUS (IslamOnline.net) -- Israeli occupation forces have adopted a new tactic in detaining what they call ' Palestinian suspects', based on detaining their wives to get them to surrender in return for releasing their women, IslamOnline.net was told by Palestinian wives.
Tamam Abdel Wahid, wife of Anad Salah El-Refae, who is one of those wanted by the occupation forces, told IOL her detention story when Israeli soldiers broke into her house and arrested her on October 25.
...
She added that she had nothing to do but to comply with instructions and accompany the soldiers to their military jeep, after blindfolding her and leaving her baby with her boy and two girls.
...
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of POW and the Released Affairs has declared in August 2003 that the occupation authorities were still detaining 73 Palestinian women, including 11 girls.
[This is a tactic the US used in Iraq briefly until the military was accused of "collective punishment", illegal under the Geneva conventions. ed.]
